第5章

Afterrelievinghismindofaquantityofvigorousprofanity,andthreatsto"buckandgag"andcutofftherationsofthewholeroom,theofficerwouldreturntohisquartersintheguardhouse,butbeforehewasfairlyensconcedtherethecapandblousewouldgooutagain,andthemaddenedguardberegaledwithaspiritedandvividlyprofanelectureonthedepravityofRebelsingeneral,andhisownunworthinessinparticular。

OnenightinJanuarythingstookamoreseriousturn。Theboysonthelowerfloorofourbuildinghadlongconsideredaplanofescape。TherewerethenaboutfifteenthousandprisonersinRichmond——tenthousandonBelleIsleandfivethousandinthebuildings。OftheseonethousandfivehundredwereofficersinLibby。BesidesthereweretheprisonersinCastlesThunderandLightning。Theessentialfeaturesoftheplanwerethatatapreconcertedsignalweatthe,secondandthirdfloorsshouldappearatthewindowswithbricksandironsfromthetobaccopresses,whichashouldshowerdownontheguardsanddrivethemaway,whilethemenofthefirstfloorwouldpourout,chasetheguardsintotheboardhouseinthebasement,seizetheirarms,drivethoseawayfromaroundLibbyandtheotherprisons,releasetheofficers,organizeintoregimentsandbrigades,seizethearmory,setfiretothepublicbuildingsandretreatfromtheCity,bythesouthsideoftheJames,wheretherewasbutascantyforceofRebels,andmorecouldbepreventedfromcomingoverbyburningthebridgesbehindus。

Itwasamagnificentscheme,andmighthavebeencarriedout,buttherewasnooneinthebuildingwhowasgenerallybelievedtohavethequalitiesofaleader。

Butwhileitwasbeingdebatedafewofthehotheadsonthelowerfloorundertooktoprecipitatethecrisis。Theyseizedwhattheythoughtwasafavorableopportunity,overpoweredtheguardwhostoodatthefootofthestairs,andpouredintothestreet。Theotherguardsfellbackandopenedfireonthem;othertroopshastenedup,andsoondrovethembackintothebuilding,afterkillingtenorfifteen。Weofthesecondandthirdfloorsdidnotanticipatethebreakatthattime,andweretakenasmuchbysurpriseasweretheRebels。Nearlyallwerelyingdownandmanywereasleep。Somehastenedtothewindows,anddroppedmissilesout,butbeforeanyconcertedactioncouldbetakenitwasseenthatthecasewashopeless,andweremainedquiet。

Amongthosewholedintheassaultwasadrummer—boyofsomeNewYorkRegiment,arecklesslybravelittlerascal。Hehadsomehowsmuggledasmallfour—shooterinwithhim,andwhentheyrushedouthefireditoffattheguards。

Aftertheprisonersweredrivenback,theRebelofficerscameinandvaporedaroundconsiderably,butconfinedthemselvestobigwords。Theywereparticularlyanxioustofindtherevolver,andorderedageneralandrigoroussearchforit。Theprisonerswereallrangedononesideoftheroomandcarefullyexaminedbyoneparty,whileanotherhuntedthroughtheblanketsandbundles。Itwasallinvain;nopistolcouldbefound。

Theboyhadaloafofwheatbread,boughtfromabakerduringtheday。

Itwasaroundloaf,settogetherintwopieceslikeabiscuit。Hepulledtheseapart,laidthefourshooterbetweenthem,pressedthetwohalvestogether,andwentoncalmlynibblingawayattheloafwhilethesearchwasprogressing。

Twogunboatswerebroughtupthenextmorning,andanchoredinthecanalnearus,withtheirheavygunstraineduponthebuilding。Itwasthoughtthatthiswouldintimidateasfromarepetitionoftheattack,butoursailorsconceivedthat,astheylaidagainsttheshorenexttous,theycouldbeeasilycaptured,andtheirartillerymadetoassistus。

Aschemetoaccomplishthiswasbeingwroughtout,whenwereceivednoticetomove,anditcametonaught。

CHAPTERX。

THEEXCHANGEANDTHECAUSEOFITSINTERRUPTION——BRIEFRESUMEOFTHE

DIFFERENTCARTELS,ANDTHEDIFFICULTIESTHATLEDTOTHEIRSUSPENSION。

FewquestionsintimatelyconnectedwiththeactualoperationsoftheRebellionhavebeenenvelopedwithsuchamassofconflictingstatementastheresponsibilityfortheinterruptionoftheexchange。Southernwritersandpoliticians,naturallyanxioustodiminishasmuchaspossiblethegreatodiumrestingupontheirsectionforthetreatmentofprisonersofwarduringthelastyearandahalfoftheConfederacy"sexistence,havevehementlychargedthattheGovernmentoftheUnitedStatesdeliberatelyandpitilesslyresignedtotheirfatesuchofitssoldiersasfellintothehandsoftheenemy,andrepelledalladvancesfromtheRebelGovernmentlookingtowardaresumptionofexchange。Itisallegedonourside,ontheotherhand,thatourGovernmentdidallthatwaspossible,consistentwithNationaldignityandmilitaryprudence,tosecureareleaseofitsunfortunatemeninthepoweroftheRebels。

Overthisvexedquestiontherehasbeenwagedanacrimoniouswarofwords,whichhasapparentlyledtonodecision,noranyconvictions——thedisputants,oneandall,remainingonthesidesofthecontroversyoccupiedbythemwhenthedebatebegan。

Imaynotbeinpossessionofallthefactsbearinguponthecase,andmaybewarpedinjudgmentbyprejudicesinfavorofmyownGovernment"swisdomandhumanity,but,howeverthismaybe,thefollowingismyfirmbeliefastothecontrollingfactsinthislamentableaffair:

1。ForsometimeafterthebeginningofhostilitiesourGovernmentrefusedtoexchangeprisonerswiththeRebels,onthegroundthatthismightbeheldbytheEuropeanpowerswhowereseekingapretextforacknowledgingtheConfederacy,tobeadmissionbyusthatthewarwasnolongeraninsurrectionbutarevolution,whichhadresultedinthe"defacto"establishmentofanewnation。ThisdifficultywasfinallygottenoverbyrecognizingtheRebelsasbelligerents,which,whileitplacedthemonasomewhatdifferentplanefrommereinsurgents,didnotelevatethemtothepositionofsoldiersofaforeignpower。

2。ThenthefollowingcartelwasagreeduponbyGeneralsDigonoursideandHillonthatoftheRebels:

HAXALL"SLANDING,ONJAMESRIVER,July22,1882。

Theundersigned,havingbeencommissionedbytheauthoritiestheyrespectivelyrepresenttomakearrangementsforageneralexchangeofprisonersofwar,haveagreedtothefollowingarticles:

ARTICLEI。——Itisherebyagreedandstipulated,thatallprisonersofwar,heldbyeitherparty,includingthosetakenonprivatearmedvessels,knownasprivateers,shallbeexchangedupontheconditionsandtermsfollowing:

Prisonerstobeexchangedmanformanandofficerforofficer。

Privateerstobeplaceduponthefootingofofficersandmenofthenavy。

Menandofficersoflowergradesmaybeexchangedforofficersofahighergrade,andmenandofficersofdifferentservicesmaybeexchangedaccordingtothefollowingscaleofequivalents:

AGeneral—commanding—in—chief,oranAdmiral,shallbeexchangedforofficersofequalrank,orforsixtyprivatesorcommonseamen。

ACommodore,carryingabroadpennant,oraBrigadierGeneral,shallbeexchangedforofficersofequalrank,ortwentyprivatesorcommonseamen。

ACaptainintheNavy,oraColonel,shallbeexchangedforofficersofequalrank,orforfifteenprivatesorcommonseamen。

ALieutenantColonel,orCommanderintheNavy,shallbeexchangedforofficersofequalrank,orfortenprivatesorcommonseamen。

ALieutenant,oraMasterintheNavy,oraCaptainintheArmyormarinesshallbeexchangedforofficersofequalrank,orsixprivatesorcommonseamen。

Master"s—matesintheNavy,orLieutenantsorEnsignsintheArmy,shallbeexchangedforofficersofequalrank,orfourprivatesorcommonseamen。Midshipmen,warrantofficersintheNavy,mastersofmerchantvesselsandcommandersofprivateers,shallbeexchangedforofficersofequalrank,orthreeprivatesorcommonseamen;SecondCaptains,Lieutenantsormatesofmerchantvesselsorprivateers,andallpettyofficersintheNavy,andallnoncommissionedofficersintheArmyormarines,shallbeseverallyexchangedforpersonsofequalrank,orfortwoprivatesorcommonseamen;andprivatesoldiersorcommonseamenshallbeexchangedforeachothermanforman。

ARTICLEII。——Local,State,civilandmilitiarankheldbypersonsnotinactualmilitaryservicewillnotberecognized;thebasisofexchangebeingthegradeactuallyheldinthenavalandmilitaryserviceoftherespectiveparties。

ARTICLEIII。——Ifcitizensheldbyeitherpartyonchargesofdisloyalty,oranyallegedciviloffense,areexchanged,itshallonlybeforcitizens。Capturedsutlers,teamsters,andallciviliansintheactualserviceofeitherparty,tobeexchangedforpersonsinsimilarpositions。

ARTICLEIV。——Allprisonersofwartobedischargedonparoleintendaysaftertheircapture;andtheprisonersnowheld,andthosehereaftertaken,tobetransportedtothepointsmutuallyagreedupon,attheexpenseofthecapturingparty。Thesurplusprisonersnotexchangedshallnotbepermittedtotakeuparmsagain,nortoserveasmilitarypoliceorconstabularyforceinanyfort,garrisonorfield—work,heldbyeitheroftherespectiveparties,norasguardsofprisoners,depositsorstores,nortodischargeanydutyusuallyperformedbysoldiers,untilexchangedundertheprovisionsofthiscartel。Theexchangeisnottobeconsideredcompleteuntiltheofficerorsoldierexchangedforhasbeenactuallyrestoredtothelinestowhichhebelongs。

ARTICLEV。——Eachpartyuponthedischargeofprisonersoftheotherpartyisauthorizedtodischargeanequalnumberoftheirownofficersormenfromparole,furnishing,atthesametime,totheotherpartyalistoftheirprisonersdischarged,andoftheirownofficersandmenrelievedfromparole;thusenablingeachpartytorelievefromparolesuchoftheirofficersandmenasthepartymaychoose。Theliststhusmutuallyfurnished,willkeepbothpartiesadvisedofthetrueconditionoftheexchangeofprisoners。

ARTICLEVI。——Thestipulationsandprovisionsabovementionedtobeofbindingobligationduringthecontinuanceofthewar,itmattersnotwhichpartymayhavethesurplusofprisoners;thegreatprinciplesinvolvedbeing,First,Anequitableexchangeofprisoners,manforman,orofficerforofficer,orofficersofhighergradeexchangedforofficersoflowergrade,orforprivates,accordingtoscaleofequivalents。Second,Thatprivatesandofficersandmenofdifferentservicesmaybeexchangedaccordingtothesamescaleofequivalents。

Third,Thatallprisoners,ofwhateverarmofservice,aretobeexchangedorparoledintendaysfromthetimeoftheircapture,ifitbepracticabletotransferthemtotheirownlinesinthattime;ifnot,sosoonthereafteraspracticable。Fourth,Thatnoofficer,orsoldier,employedintheserviceofeitherparty,istobeconsideredasexchangedandabsolvedfromhisparoleuntilhisequivalenthasactuallyreachedthelinesofhisfriends。Fifth,Thatparoleforbidstheperformanceoffield,garrison,police,orguardorconstabularyduty。

JOHNA。DIX,MajorGeneral。

D。H。HILL,MajorGeneral,C。S。A。

SUPPLEMENTARYARTICLES。

ARTICLEVII。——Allprisonersofwarnowheldoneitherside,andallprisonershereaftertaken,shallbesentwithallreasonabledispatchtoA。M。Aiken"s,belowDutchGap,ontheJamesRiver,inVirginia,ortoVicksburg,ontheMississippiRiver,intheStateofMississippi,andthereexchangedofparoleduntilsuchexchangecanbeeffected,noticebeingpreviouslygivenbyeachpartyofthenumberofprisonersitwillsend,andthetimewhentheywillbedeliveredatthosepointsrespectively;andincasethevicissitudesofwarshallchangethemilitaryrelationsoftheplacesdesignatedinthisarticletothecontendingparties,soastorenderthesameinconvenientforthedeliveryandexchangeofprisoners,otherplacesbearingasnearlyasmaybethepresentlocalrelationsofsaidplacestothelinesofsaidparties,shallbe,bymutualagreement,substituted。Butnothinginthisarticlecontainedshallpreventthecommandersofthetwoopposingarmiesfromexchangingprisonersorreleasingthemonparole,atotherpointsmutuallyagreedonbysaidcommanders。

ARTICLEVIII。——Forthepurposeofcarryingintoeffecttheforegoingarticlesofagreement,eachpartywillappointtwoagentsfortheexchangeofprisonersofwar,whosedutyitshallbetocommunicatewitheachotherbycorrespondenceandotherwise;topreparethelistsofprisoners;toattendtothedeliveryoftheprisonersattheplacesagreedon,andtocarryoutpromptly,effectually,andingoodfaith,allthedetailsandprovisionsofthesaidarticlesofagreement。

ARTICLEIX。——And,incaseanymisunderstandingshallariseinregardtoanyclauseorstipulationintheforegoingarticles,itismutuallyagreedthatsuchmisunderstandingshallnotaffectthereleaseofprisonersonparole,ashereinprovided,butshallbemadethesubjectoffriendlyexplanation,inorderthattheobjectofthisagreementmayneitherbedefeatednorpostponed。

JOHNA。DIX,MajorGeneral。

D。H。HILL,MajorGeneral。C。S。A。

Thisplandidnotworkwell。Menonbothsides,whowantedalittlerestfromsoldiering,couldobtainitbysostragglinginthevicinityoftheenemy。Theirparole——followingcloseupontheircapture,frequentlyuponthespot——allowedthemtovisithome,andsojournawhilewherewerepleasanterpasturesthanatthefront。ThentheRebelsgrewintothehabitofparolingeverybodythattheycouldconstrainintobeingaprisonerofwar。Peaceable,unwarlikeanddecrepitcitizensofKentucky,EastTennessee,WestVirginia,MissouriandMarylandwere"captured"andparoled,andsetoffagainstregularRebelsoldierstakenbyus。

3。Aftersomemonthsoftrialofthisscheme,amodificationofthecartelwasagreedupon,themainfeatureofwhichwasthatallprisonersmustbereducedtopossession,anddeliveredtotheexchangeofficerseitheratCityPoint,Va。,orVicksburg,Miss。Thisworkedverywellforsomemonths,untilourGovernmentbeganorganizingnegrotroops。TheRebelsthenissuedanorderthatneitherthesetroopsnortheirofficersshouldbeheldasamenabletothelawsofwar,butthat,whencaptured,themenshouldbereturnedtoslavery,andtheofficersturnedovertotheGovernorsoftheStatesinwhichtheyweretaken,tobedealtwithaccordingtothestringentlawpunishingtheincitementofservileinsurrection。OurGovernmentcouldnotpermitthisforaday。ItwasboundbyeveryconsiderationofNationalhonortoprotectthosewhoworeitsuniformandboreitsflag。TheRebelGovernmentwaspromptlyinformedthatrebelofficersandmenwouldbeheldashostagesforthepropertreatmentofsuchmembersofcoloredregimentsasmightbetaken。

4。Thisdiscussiondidnotputastoptotheexchange,butwhileitwasgoingonVicksburgwascaptured,andthebattleofGettysburgwasfought。

Thefirstplacedoneoftheexchangepointsinourhands。AttheopeningofthefightatGettysburgLeecapturedsomesixthousandPennsylvaniamilitia。HesenttoMeadetohavetheseexchangedonthefieldofbattle。Meadedeclinedtodosofortworeasons:first,becauseitwasagainstthecartel,whichprescribedthatprisonersmustbereducedtopossession;andsecond,becausehewasanxioustohaveLeehamperedwithsuchabodyofprisoners,sinceitwasverydoubtfulifhecouldgethisbeatenarmybackacrossthePotomac,letalonehisprisoners。LeethensentacommunicationtoGeneralCouch,commandingthePennsylvaniamilitia,askinghimtoreceiveprisonersonparole,andCouch,notknowingwhatMeadehaddone,accededtotherequest。OurGovernmentdisavowedCouch"sactioninstantly,andorderedtheparolestobetreatedasofnoforce,whereupontheRebelGovernmentorderedbackintothefieldtwelvethousandoftheprisonerscapturedbyGrant"sarmyatVicksburg。

5。Theparolingnowstoppedabruptly,leavinginthehandsofbothsidestheprisonerscapturedatGettysburg,exceptthemilitiaabovementioned。

TheRebelsaddedconsiderablytothoseintheirhandsbytheircapturesatChickamauga,whilewegainedagreatmanyatMissionRidge,CumberlandGapandelsewhere,sothatatthetimewearrivedinRichmondtheRebelshadaboutfifteenthousandprisonersintheirhandsandourGovernmenthadabouttwenty—fivethousand。

6。Therebelsnowbegandemandingthattheprisonersonbothsidesbeexchanged——manforman——asfarastheywent,andtheremainderparoled。

OurGovernmentofferedtoexchangemanforman,butdeclined——onaccountofthepreviousbadfaithoftheRebels——toreleasethebalanceonparole。TheRebelsalsorefusedtomakeanyconcessionsinregardtothetreatmentofofficersandmenofcoloredregiments。

7。AtthisjunctureGeneralB。F。ButlerwasappointedtothecommandoftheDepartmentoftheBlackwater,whichmadehimanex—officioCommissionerofExchange。TheRebelsinstantlyrefusedtotreatwithhim,onthegroundthathewasoutlawedbytheproclamationofJeffersonDavis。GeneralButlerverypertinentlyrepliedthatthisonlyplacedhimnearertheirlevel,asJeffersonDavisandallassociatedwithhimintheRebelGovernmenthadbeenoutlawedbytheproclamationofPresidentLincoln。TheRebelsscornedtonoticethishomethrustbytheUnionGeneral。

8。OnFebruary12,1864,GeneralButleraddressedalettertotheRebelCommissionerOuld,inwhichbeasked,forthesakeofhumanity,thatthequestionsinterruptingtheexchangebelefttemporarilyinabeyancewhileaninformalexchangewasputinoperation。HewouldsendfivehundredprisonerstoCityPoint;letthembemetbyasimilarnumberofUnionprisoners。Thiscouldgoonfromdaytodayuntilallineachother"shandsshouldbetransferredtotheirrespectiveflags。

ThefivehundredsentwiththeGeneral"sletterwerereceived,andfivehundredUnionprisonersreturnedforthem。Anotherfivehundred,sentthenextday,wererefused,andsothisreasonableandhumanepropositionendedinnothing。

ThiswastheconditionofaffairsinFebruary,1864,whentheRebelauthoritiesconcludedtosendustoAndersonville。IfthereaderwillfixthesefactsinhismindsIwillexplainotherphasesastheydevelop。

CHAPTERXL

PUTTINGINTHETIME——RATIONS——COOKINGUTENSILS——"FIATSOUP——"SPOONING"——

AFRICANNEWSPAPERVENDERS——TRADINGGREENBACKSFORCONFEDERATEMONEY——

VISITFROMJOHNMORGAN。

TheWinterdayspassedon,onebyone,afterthemannerdescribedinaformerchapter,——themorningsinill—naturehunger;theafternoonsandeveningsintolerablecomfort。Therationskeptgrowinglighterandlighter;thequantityofbreadremainedthesame,butthemeatdiminished,andoccasionaldayswouldpasswithoutanybeingissued。

Thenwereceiveapintorlessofsoupmadefromthebeansorpeasbeforementioned,butthis,too,sufferedcontinuedchange,inthegraduallyincreasingproportionofJamesRiverwater,anddecreasingofthatofthebeans。

ThewateroftheJamesRiverisdoubtlessexcellent:itlookswell——atadistance——andissaidtoservethepurposesofablutionandnavigationadmirably。Thereseemstobealimithowever,totheextentofitsadvantageouscombinationwiththebean（orpea）fornutritivepurposes。

This,though,wasorviewofthecase,merely,andnotsharedintoanyappreciablyextentbythegentlemenwhoweremanagingourboardinghouse。

Weseemedtoviewthematterthroughallopathicspectacles,theythroughhomoeopathiclenses。Wethoughtthattheatomicweightofpeas（orbeans）andtheJamesRiverfluidwereaboutequal,whichwouldindicatethatthepropercombiningproportionswouldbe,sayabucketofbeans（orpeas）toabucketofwater。Theyheldthatthenutritivepotencywasincreasedbythedilution,andthebestresultswereobtainablewhenthesymptomsofhungerwerecombatedbythetriturationofabucketfulofthepeas—beanswithabarrelof"aquajamesiana。"

Myfirstexperiencewiththis"flat"soupwasveryinstructive,ifnotagreeable。Ihadcomeintoprison,asdidmostotherprisoners,absolutelydestituteofdishes,orcookingutensils。Thewell—used,half—canteenfrying—pan,theblackenedquartcup,andthespoon,whichformedtheusualkitchenoutfitofthecavalrymaninthefield,wereinthehaversackonmysaddle,andwerelosttomewhenIseparatedfrommyhorse。Now,whenweweretoldthatweweretodrawsoup,Iwasingreatdangeroflosingmyrationfromhavingnovesselinwhichtoreceiveit。

Therewerebutfewtincupsintheprison,andthesewere,ofcourse,wantedbytheirowners。BygreatgoodfortuneIfoundanemptyfruitcan,holdingaboutaquart。Iwasalsoluckyenoughtofindapiecefromwhichtomakeabail。Inextmanufacturedaspoonandknifecombinedfromabitofhoop—iron。

Thesetwohumbleutensilsatonceplacedmyselfandmyimmediatechumsonanotherplane,asfarasworldlygoodswereconcerned。Wewerebetteroffthanthemass,andaswelloffasthemostfortunate。Itwasacuriousillustrationofthatlawofpoliticaleconomywhichteachesthatso—calledintrinsicvalueislargelyadventitious。Theirpossessiongaveusinfinitelymoreconsiderationamongourfellowsthanwouldthepossessionofabrown—stonefrontinaneligiblelocation,furnishedwithhotandcoldwaterthroughout,andallthemodernimprovements。Itwasaplacewherecookingutensilswereindemand,andtitle—deedstobrown—

stonefrontswerenot。Wewereinpossessionofsomethingwhicheveryoneneededeveryday,and,therefore,werepersonsofconsequenceandconsiderationtothosearounduswhowerepresentorprospectiveborrowers。

Onoursideweobeyedanotherlawofpoliticaleconomy:Weclungtoourpropertywithunrelaxingtenacity,madethebestuseofitinourintercoursewithourfellows,andonlygaveitupafterourreleaseandentryintoalandwheretheplenitudeofcookingutensilsofsuperiorconstructionmadeoursvalueless。Thenweflungthemintothesea,withlittlegratitudeforthegreatbenefittheyhadbeentous。Weweremoreanxioustogetridofthemanyhatefulrecollectionsclusteringaroundthem。

But,toreturntotheallegedsoup:AsIstartedtodrinkmyfirstrationitseemedtomethattherewasasuperfluityofbugsuponitssurface。

MuchasIwantedanimalfood,Ididnotcareforfreshmeatinthatform。

Iskimmedthemoffcarefully,soastoloseaslittlesoupaspossible。

Butthetoplayerseemedtobeunderlaidwithanotherequallydense。

Thiswasalsoskimmedoffasdeftlyaspossible。Butbeneaththisappearedanotherlayer,which,whenremoved,showedstillanother;andsoon,untilIhadscrapedtothebottomofthecan,andthelastofthebugswentwiththelastofmysoup。Ihavebeforespokenoftheremarkablebugfecundityofthebeans（orpeas）。Thiswasademonstrationofit。Everyscoupedoutpea（orbean）whichfounditswayintothesoupboreinsideofitsshellfromtentotwentyofthesehard—

crustedlittleweevil。AfterwardIdrankmysoupwithoutskimming。

ItwasnotthatIhatedtheweevilless,butthatIlovedthesoupmore。

ItwasonlyanothersteptowardacloserconformitytothatgrandrulewhichIhavemadetheguidingmaximofmylife:

"WhenImust,Ihadbetter。"

Irecommendthistootheryoungmenstartingontheircareer。

Theroominwhichwewerewasbarelylargeenoughforallofustoliedownatonce。Eventhenitrequiredprettyclose"spooning"together——

socloseinfactthatallsleepingalongonesidewouldhavetoturnatonce。Itwasfunnytowatchthisoperation。All,forinstance,wouldbelyingontheirrightsides。Theywouldbegintogettired,andoneoftheweariedoneswouldsingouttotheSergeantwhowasincommandoftherow——

"Sergeant:let"sspoontheotherway。"

Thatindividualwouldreply:

"Allright。Attention！LEFTSPOON！！andthewholelinewouldatonceflopoverontheirleftsides。

Thefeetoftherowthatsleptalongtheeastwallonthefloorbelowuswereinalinewiththeedgeoftheouterdoor,andachalklinedrawnfromthecrackbetweenthedoorandtheframetotheoppositewallwouldtouch,say150pairsoffeet。Theywereanoisycrowddownthere,andonenighttheirnoisesoprovokedtheguardinfrontofthedoorthathecalledouttothemtokeepquietorhewouldfireinuponthem。Theygreetedthisthreatwithachorusprofanelyuncomplimentarytothepurityoftheguard"sancestry;theydidnotimplyhisdescentalaDarwin,fromtheremotemonkey,butmoreimmediategenerationbyacommondomesticanimal。TheincensedRebelopenedthedoorwideenoughtothrusthisgunin,andhefireddirectlydownthelineoftoes。Hispiecewasapparentlyloadedwithbuckshot,andthelittleballsmusthavestruckthelegs,nippedoffthetoes,piercedthefeet,andotherwiseslightlywoundedthelowerextremitiesoffiftymen。Thesimultaneousshriekthatwentupwasdeafening。Itwassoonfoundoutthatnobodyhadbeenhurtseriously,andtherewasnotalittlefunovertheoccurrence。

OneoftheprisonersinLibbywasBrigadierGeneralNealDow,ofMaine,whohadthenaNationalreputationasaTemperanceadvocate,andtheauthorofthefamousMaineLiquorLaw。We,whoseplaceswerenearthefrontwindow,usedtoseehimfrequentlyonthestreet,accompaniedbyaguard。Hewasallowed,weunderstood,tovisitoursickinthehospital。

Hislong,snowybeardandhairgavehimavenerableandcommandingappearance。

NewsboysseemedtobeathingunknowninRichmond。Thepapersweresoldonthestreetsbynegromen。Theonewhofrequentedoursectionwiththemorningjournalshadamellow;richbaritoneforwhichwewouldbegladtoexchangetheshrillcriesofourstreetArabs。WelongrememberedhimasoneofthepeculiarfeaturesofRichmond。Hehadoneunvaryingformulaforproclaiminghiswares。Itraninthiswise:

"GreatNoozeindepapahs！

"GreatNoozefromOrangeCoahtHouse,Virginny！

"GreatNoozefromAlexandry,Virginny！

"GreatNoozefromWashingtonCity！

"GreatNoozefromChattanoogy,Tennessee！

"GreatNoozefromChahlston,Sou"Cahlina！

"GreatNoozeindepapahs！"

ItdidnotmattertohimthattheRebelshadnotbeenatsomeoftheseplacesformonths。HewouldnotchangeforsuchmeretriflesastheentireevaporationofallpossibleinterestconnectedwithChattanoogaandAlexandria。HewasatrueBourbonSoutherner——helearnednothingandforgotnothing。

Therewasaconsiderabletradedrivenbetweentheprisonersandtheguardatthedoor。Thiswasaverylucrativepositionforthelatter,andmenofacommercialturnofmindgenerallymanagedtogetstationedthere。

TheblockadehadcutofftheConfederacy"ssuppliesfromtheouterworld,andthemanytrinketsaboutaman"spersonwereingooddemandathighprices。ThemenoftheArmyofthePotomac,whowerepaidregularly,andwerealwaysneartheirsupplies,hadtheirpocketsfilledwithcombs,silkhandkerchiefs,knives,neckties,goldpens,pencils,silverwatches,playingcards,dice,etc。SuchoftheseasescapedappropriationbytheircaptorsandDickTurner,wereeagerlyboughtbytheguards,whopaidfairpricesinConfederatemoney,ortradedwheatbread,tobacco,dailypapers,etc。,forthem。

Therewasalsoconsiderablebrokerageinmoney,andthemannerofdoingthiswasanadmirableexemplificationofthefollyofthe"fiat"moneyidea。TheRebelsexhaustedtheiringenuityinframinglawstosustainthepurchasingpoweroftheirpapermoney。Itwasmadelegaltenderforalldebtspublicandprivate;itwasdecreedthatthemanwhorefusedtotakeitwasapublicenemy;alltheconsiderationsofpatriotismwereralliedtoitssupport,andthelawprovidedthatanycitizensfoundtraffickinginthemoneyoftheenemy——i。e。,greenbacks,shouldsufferimprisonmentinthePenitentiary,andanysoldiersooffendingshouldsufferdeath。

Notwithstandingallthis,inRichmond,theheadandheartoftheConfederacy,inJanuary,1864——longbeforetheRebelcausebegantolookatalldesperate——ittookadollartobuysuchaloafofbreadasnowsellsfortencents;anewspaperwasahalfdollar,andeverythingelseinproportion。Andstillworse:TherewasnotadayduringourstayinRichmondbutwhatonecouldgototheholeinthedoorbeforewhichtheguardwaspacingandcalloutinaloudwhisper:

"Say,Guard:doyouwanttobuysomegreenbacks？"

Andbesurethatthereplywouldbe,afterafurtiveglancearoundtoseethatnoofficerwaswatching:

"Yes;howmuchdoyouwantforthem？"

Thereplywasthen:"Tenforone。"

"Allright;howmuchhaveyougot？"

TheYankeewouldreply;theRebelwouldwalktothefartherendofhisbeat,countoutthenecessaryamount,and,returning,putuponehandwithit,whilewiththeotherhecaughtholdofoneendoftheYankee"sgreenback。Attheword,bothwouldreleasetheirholdssimultaneously,theexchangewascomplete,andtheRebelwouldpaceindustriouslyupanddownhisbeatwiththeairoftheschoolboywho"ain"tbeena—doin"